RCBS Chargemaster 1500 Scale

[Turbulent Turtle]

Please let us know how that works out for your. I might want to add this tidbit to my growing list of issues to look for with the CM1500.

 

[Lesloan]

Please let us know how that works out for your. I might want to add this tidbit to my growing list of issues to look for with the CM1500.

Well, I did it, and the answer is a definite "maybe." I checked the feet on the scale, and one was kinda tight, so I loosened it. The scale worked just fine for loading a few dozen rounds.

The reason my answer is "maybe," though, is that I also did several other things suggested here. I blew out the space under the pan tray with canned air to make sure it was clear, checked to make sure the scale was level with a small spirit level, gave it an hour's warmup, watched the display when the pan was off the scale to make sure it didn't vary and used a check wt. (a 52-gr Sierra MK) every 15-20 rounds to verify continuing accuracy. There's just no way to say for sure which of these actions did the trick. Doesn't really matter, though. Since they're so easy, I'll just the incorporate 'em all in the reloading procedure.

Thanks to all for your suggestions. They're very much appreciated.

--Lloyd

 

[Travelor]

Lloyd, if you are still having problems call me.

George T

 

[nra-for-life]

well for what it is worth, I have had not had any issues with my chargemaster....At the advice of several electronic scale users, I bought a clean power supply (I think they might be called line scrubbers?) from Fry's. It was a fairly expensive unit imo for what it does, like $150, but i got it on sale, plus I had a gift card to pay for part of it as well... Anyways the guy at Fry's said it was a pretty top notch unit. It is apparently supposed to supply "clean" power to sensitive electronics, whatever the blank that means... I don't even care or want to know so long as my scale works right. I'm obviously not any sort of expert in this department but I have always had accurate and consistant readings even when double and triple checking days later. Food for thought hopefully. GL

 

[amlevin]

well for what it is worth, I have had not had any issues with my chargemaster....At the advice of several electronic scale users, I bought a clean power supply (I think they might be called line scrubbers?) from Fry's. It was a fairly expensive unit imo for what it does, like $150, but i got it on sale, plus I had a gift card to pay for part of it as well... Anyways the guy at Fry's said it was a pretty top notch unit. It is apparently supposed to supply "clean" power to sensitive electronics, whatever the blank that means... I don't even care or want to know so long as my scale works right. I'm obviously not any sort of expert in this department but I have always had accurate and consistant readings even when double and triple checking days later. Food for thought hopefully. GL

Line conditioners, Power Scrubbers, etc are all useful but not the end all answer. They do nothing to insure that the DC voltage from the adapter remains stable under varying loads. They merely remove any "hash" from the AC line that might be caused by a power tool being used by your neighbor, etc.

Regulated power supplies that not only filter the "hash" but provide a totally stable output of DC voltage, regardless of what mode the dispenser is in is the sure fire method for eliminating power problems and many are available for around $30 online.

 

[gilream]

I've had mine for about 3 years, and it's one of my favorite pieces of equipment in my reloading room.....

Having said that, I've had a periodic problem as you described it. In my case, I found that just a few kernels of powder falling down into the hole under the black plastic "plate" that the pan sits on...was enough to cause the scale to show incorrect readings and often to have the numbers kind of "bounce around."

Every so often I unplug it, remove the loose parts, turn it upside down and blow some "canned air" up into the open area. That takes care of it.....until the next time, usually months or at the worst, weeks.

Good luck and let us know how your situation works out...

George

Those kernels sitting down there are on the load cell and i would take care in this area. I put the McDonald's straw accessory into the tube and sometimes it will leak a few grains of powder directly into this hole that you speak of. I take a portable vaccum with the smallest slotted attachment and approach it slowly until it picks up the powder. just my 2c.

 

[ReedG]

I have to admit I read some of the CM posts and chuckle. I am seriously considering buying one but can any of you "experienced" users tell me that one of these things will actually work in a real-world loading room. My reloading area is not a NASA "clean room" and never will be. I understand the detrimental effects of drafts, even on balance scales, and so-called "clean" power lines.

Isn't the power supply that comes with a CM a so-called "wall wart" that converts AC into DC and a transformer that supplies the needed voltage (I presume 9VDC)? The stability of these things is normally sufficient to run low-load devices.

My laptop computer sets on the same desk, along with presses, powder measures, etc.

So, bottom line, are all these posts telling me to forget the CM as it won't function in my world?

For competition I pretty much preload everything, but if I want to load at the range, and don't live in the world of motor homes, is there any hope of a CM surviving being packed up, hauled to the range, set up there and still function?

Can it be used reliably without a second, expensive "check scale"? If I have to reweigh every charge I can do that with my Harrell's and balance scale a lot faster. I know it's heresy on this forum, but I am more than willing to live with +/- 0.1 gr. accuracy. Is the CM capable of that in the real world?

Thanks, Reed

 

[amlevin]

Isn't the power supply that comes with a CM a so-called "wall wart" that converts AC into DC and a transformer that supplies the needed voltage (I presume 9VDC)? The stability of these things is normally sufficient to run low-load devices.

The "Wall Wart" that RCBS supplies is a perfect example of their problems and limitations. The so called "output voltage" shown on them is measured at the rated current load. When there is no load, or reduced.varying load, the voltage is all over the place. When the adapter is disconnected from my Chargemaster the no load voltage is 12.6 volts even though the rated output is stated as 9 Volts. I'm sure that there is some "On Board" voltage regulation in the CM's electronics but having a stable supply to begin with only helps insure that the unit itself is more stable in its readings.

As for checking with another scale? Haven't found the need. Occasionally I'll place a test weight on the pan to see that the scale hasn't drifted (not a problem with mine) and as a periodic quality check.

There are some that are so "detail oriented" that it approaches paranoia. Even a "clean room" and a "lab grade power supply" along with a "lab grade scale" won't convince them that their dispensing scale is accurate. Perhaps for some of them the fun in reloading is doubting everything. For me, it's shooting and reloading to support that hobby.

 

[Bradley Walker]

There are some that are so "detail oriented" that it approaches paranoia. Even a "clean room" and a "lab grade power supply" along with a "lab grade scale" won't convince them that their dispensing scale is accurate. Perhaps for some of them the fun in reloading is doubting everything. For me, it's shooting and reloading to support that hobby.

Man you said a mouthful there.

 

[Lesloan]

Lloyd, if you are still having problems call me.

George T

Thanks, George. At the moment everything looks fine, but I'll sure be in touch if that changes. See ya Thursday!

Lloyd

 

[walker2713]

ReedG: 1) absolutely works very well....just over a period of time some "issues" develop.....I still wouldn't give mine up.

2) after 3 years, I was having some difficulties with mine, and decided to take advantage of one of their offers: I sent it back to RCBS with a check for $45 and they're sending me a new unit. It wasn't under warranty, but that's a good deal, IMHO.

George

 

[jo191145]

My CM has been running continuously since 2004 except for power outages. Never turn off any electronic scales. I haven't balanced mine in the last five years. Waste of time.
I used mine for several years to throw light charges for an Acculab 123. One day I needed ten foulers in my 6PPC to run in the clean barrel with HBN. Known load and start of the season type thing.
Decided not to use the Acculab on the foulers just the CM 1500. 10 shot group was very nice with respectable ES/SD. Tried five loaded with the Acculab. Larger group and ES/SD. Obviously a fluke. Loaded five more with the CM and five with the Accu. Same results. Unplugged the Accu that day and never felt sorry for it. YMMV.
The moral of the story is NEVER trust anything but the target.

 

[Erud]

I've been using a CM 1500 for about 6 or 7 years and it has been great. It did break down last year(after around 5 years of service) and I sent it in for the $45 replacement. The replacement has worked perfectly so far. I shoot various forms of NRA Highpower matches and am not limited by the scale. I recently picked up a Sartorius GD503 which I have started using for my 600, 800, 900 1000 yd loads(because I'm obsessive like that), but have shot some pretty good High Master scores and clean targets with CM-thrown charges.

When I first got the Sartorius set up, I did a quick test to see how accurate the Chargemaster really was. I threw 30 charges of 28.4 grains of Reloader 15 and cross checked them on the GD 503. Here's what the numbers looked like:

Low Charge: 28.320g
High Charge: 28.510
Average Charge: 28.416g
ES: 0.19g
SD: -0.0407946(if I calculated this right, SD is a lot more complicated formula than I would have expected)

This is a pretty small sample size, but it gives you some idea of the accuracy. I am perfectly comfortable with it's accuracy and I could live without the Sartorius if I needed to and I don't believe my scores would suffer. It just makes me feel good to know that my long line loads are matched to within 1 powder kernel of each other, even though my position will wreck a shot long before that kernel comes into play.

In my opinion, the Chargemaster 1500 is an excellent product and an invaluable reloading tool.

Hope this info is useful.

Erik

 

[amlevin]

It just makes me feel good to know that my long line loads are matched to within 1 powder kernel of each other, even though my position will wreck a shot long before that kernel comes into play.

And in that statement lies the total truth about obsessive accuracy in scales.

 

[MVW]

I should perhaps start a new thread, but I have a 1500 and although I like it, it tends to overrun with Varget on a regular basis. I have tried the straw and that doesn't seem to make much of a difference. It is level and well warmed up. It seems like it clumps up at the exit tube and then throws a bunch all at once.

Any suggesitons,

Mike

 

[Steve Wilson]

I first tried the McD straw with notches (teeth) cut on the end. That worked pretty good on reducing the overcharges. But I found that a straw with no notches works even better for me. My straw is about 2 inches long and flush with the end of the tube. I use Varget in my 6 Dasher and an overcharge is now a rare thing.

Oh.....one last tip. Putting a folded drier sheet under the chargemaster, so that it contacts the metal strips helped reduce my overcharges too. If I start getting a few, I look to see if my drier sheet is in place. Nope? Dummy.

 

[MVW]

Thanks steve. I'll put it on a dryer sheet and put in a longer straw. I have been using .5" I guess longer is better. One thing I have been thinking about is getting an anti-static pad that they put electronic equipment on, but for now I'll stick to the dryer sheets. Mike

 

[infantrytrophy]

Dryer snti-static sheets work well to eliminate "clinging" of powder kernels to plastic parts of the device, as many have said. German Salazar, in his excellent "Rifleman's Journal" blog, recommends an anti-static spray to reduce drift of electronic scales. This is available inexpensively at grocery stores.

Link: http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com/2012/04/good-stuff-anti-static-spray.html

Randy

 

[Steve Wilson]

Mike,

Like I said, my straw is about 2 inches long. I had it set up where it was poking out of the end of the tube by about a good 1/4 + inch. But it kept getting pushed back when I did the calibration weights. So, I just left it flush.

What you will notice with the longer straw is, that when the Chargemaster starts with its "slow trickle and look" mode, is that the amount of powder threatening to jump off the end of the straw diminishes. The powder sort of sloshes back and forth, in the trickle and look mode. Every time it trickles a little bit you can see the powder slide up one side of the straw, a few kernels trickle out, the powder sloshes back in the other direction and there is less of a "jam." By the time it is within a couple of tenths, there is a very small stream of powder at the tip of the straw.

I hope this explanation helps some and that we haven't hijacked this tread too badly.

 

[dboyles]

I should perhaps start a new thread, but I have a 1500 and although I like it, it tends to overrun with Varget on a regular basis. I have tried the straw and that doesn't seem to make much of a difference. It is level and well warmed up. It seems like it clumps up at the exit tube and then throws a bunch all at once.

I have used two CMs side-by-side and the scale was significantly slower on one of them. The slower scale threw overcharges fairly often... maybe 5-10% of the time. It was easy to tell which scale was which: The faster one went from off to 0.0gr in about 8 seconds, while the slower one took more like 13. Worth looking into.